They are actually a platform for recently graduated designers and designers. The Future More collective consists of eight different designers who each have their own view and style, some are product-oriented and others conceptual, but they work together, give each other feedback on their work and inspire each other. “On your own, it is quite difficult to go full at once,” Jasper Luijten, one of three initiators of the collective, says. During the DDW they will exhibit for the first time, as a collective, with the theme ‘Future Mythologies’, eight completely different projects.

Innovation Origins talks to two of the three initiators, in Yellow Monkey, a coffee bar on Willemstraat, where they give a party during DDW. “If we do it, we will go all the way,” Simone Smelt says. The exhibition itself can be seen in the Pullmann Hotel. Also at Yellow Monkey, during the week, the work of the eight designers can be seen on posters.

Together with Nick Beens, Luijten and Smelt are the initiators of the Future More collective. “We want to give young designers a platform so that they can work on their network. We build a kind of database of companies that we can link to recent graduates. That is why it is important that everyone has and keeps their own style,” Luijten explains. “Everyone also works under their own name. But working together as a collective just makes you better. For example, through our weekly feedback moments. It is very difficult to make your own initiated work without a clear goal in mind. And that is what we want to do. We give an assignment and this way you can expand your portfolio. With this, you have something to show the industry. A kind of safety net after graduation. A rotating group of which you will be part for a few years until you can continue as an individual.”

The idea originated from last year’s Graduation Show. Every year, graduates of the Design Academy show their work during that show. It is always in October, Beens, Luijten, and Smelt graduated in July. In the intervening period, they missed what they mainly did during the training: discuss each other’s work and give each other feedback. When they were waiting to present their work, the idea arose to do ‘something’ together. Luijten: “We all had the same feeling. And we approached other designers who had just graduated or like-minded designers who would like to work together.” Because that’s what they want most of all: working with the manufacturing industry. “We want to find companies that want to continue with us and that can be as individuals or as groups.”

For their first exhibition, they chose the theme ‘Future Mythologies’ and asked the designers to be inspired by a myth. “That could be something from antiquity or something more contemporary,” Luijten explains. The designers made tangible objects that can be seen during DDW. “We hope that people will talk to us about our projects.”

Future More is supported by Art Dumay, an art dealer from Nuenen. For almost twenty years “they sold art for on the wall,” Lydia van der Made, trend researcher and concept developer at Art Dumay, says. “Until we went online two years ago. Then we grew enormously from a small very traditional gallery. Now every week we auction objects which we ship all over the world. Dresses by Addy van den Krommenacker, shoes by Jan Janssen. We found those trips alongside the art because that remains our core business, so much fun that we also wanted to make a trip to design.”

Art Dumay helps the young designers with the organization of the exhibition ‘Future Mythologies’ and brings them in contact with its network. Smelt: “For us, it is very interesting because we don’t have a lot of experience in exhibitions. We can make good use of their support and experience.” Luijten: “What we really really want is to slowly grow to a label. That we sell under ‘Future More’. That is also something Art Dumay wants to help us with. Provided this try out is positive, of course.”

Text: Corine Spaans (Innovation Origins)

The DDW Hidden Gems are published in collaboration with Innovation Origins and curator Katja Lucas of DDW. Would you like to visit the hidden gems yourself? Every day Brandstore Eindhoven/VVV organises a bike tour to the selected designers. For more info check the website or use this link to book a ticket.

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